[Ccarp1069]

Alright im fairly new at working on bikes but im also mechanicly inclined.

I have an 81 Suzuki GS550T.

I removed the carbs and airbox cleaned the carbs and ditched the box it was beat-up pretty bad.

Put it all back together, replacing my 95.5 main jets with 100's to com. for the new filters which are K&N's.

Heres the thing iv never done any of this and im proud to say that by myself i did it and my bike is running. The filters wont come in until next week so its filterless but i wanted to take it for a short ride and make sure all was good.

As it turns out the Bike is running Rich, Asumeing Rich means more fuel than air. So if i have no air filters and its rich then do i need smaller jets, will the original ones work? I dont know what to do here its all trial and error here any advice. Also at the moment i cant get my spark plugs out, Because i dont have a big enough socket right now. But i believe one of then is either not fireing or misfiring.

So to recap.

Im running rich.
If my spark plug is faulty, Changing it might fix the problem, Right?
And, Will the air Filters fix all the problems?

Please help Im at a slight Stand still here i just want it up to par.

Thanks

 

[Easy Rider 2]

If my spark plug is faulty, Changing it might fix the problem, Right?
And, Will the air Filters fix all the problems?

Just exactly HOW do you know that "you are running rich" if you can't get the plugs out ??

You have already made a major mistake by starting with modifications when it wasn't running right STOCK in the first place.

Yes, you need to fix the "spark plug" problem first; might or might not help the other stuff.

Running with no filter is roughly the same as with a K&N.....so testing it that way is probably OK......and it will not change (much if any) when you do put the filters on.

If you still have stock pipes on it, your jet change might have been too much.....or you might even get by with the stock jets.....but you should NOT mess with that any more until you get the "spark plug" problem fixed.

 

[HondaIlya]

+1

 

[jvollmer]

It is important to change on thing at a time and then check things out before making more changes.

Don't even consider screwing with the carbs and jetting unless you have the timing set first, good ignition and good spark plugs.

Without an exhaust change there is a good chance the air filter change will not even require a jetting change.

Ideally here is how it would go.
1. The bike has no problems, if it does fix them first.
2. Put on your new filters, ride the bike and check the jetting by using a dyno or the much cheaper throttle chop method reading the spark plugs.
3. Make a jetting change ONLY if needed. Then start the process over again.
4. When making jetting changes don't mess with the float levels or needle valve clips at the same time. Do all changes as a seperate process. There are some exceptions to this if you are an experienced carb tuner but it sounds like you are not so just change one thing at a time and then recheck.
5. Jetting is a lifelong commitment. Once you make a change there is a good chance you are chasing the results for many future riding seasons.

So put the stock jets back in. Make sure the bike is running good with good spark and timing is set then start out with the air filter modification and subsequesnt jetting change if needed. I bet you won't even need to change the jets.



Interestingly I just rode a GS550 which is for sale near me. Someone had put aftermarket exhuast on it. The thing was only running on 2 or 3 cyclinders and the owner had to change out the fouled spark plugs to get it to run for my test drive and when I ran it there was black exhaust smoke. The bike was running rich.

Someone had changed the exhaust spending gobs of money to make it louder and gain maybe 3 horsepower. No change to the cams, heads, or intake system. Then thinking all the noise=horsepower they think they need a big jetting change and put in bigger jets. Now the bike doesn't run right and he can't get anyone to buy it because of the "modifications" which made it run bad and raised the price.


I realize I am starting to ramble here but I just had another thought-
Metric sport bikes and HD bikes are often detuned for power emission or noise reasons. Many people with HD pay what they call the Harley Tax. This consists of pipes and an intake system to bring out some more power. The reasons behind this and the consequesnces are for another thread. But what is relevent is this practice combined with the hot rodding of the metric sport bikes contributes to people feeling they need to do the same to all bikes.

Many bikes such as the GS550 do not have HP limiting factors designed into them like metric sportbikes and HD bikes. Simply put you would probably have to spend a bunch of many to get any worthwhile horsepower change out of many bikes. The bikes are pretty good at doing what they are designed to do and modifications spending reasonable amounts of money for big results are often not warranted, neccesary or sensible. I have a CB650 and it is a good bike, sure I could start doing mods and spend thousands and thousands of dollars but it is still a CB650 and it no longer is good at what it is supposed to do.

Of couse I say all this with the realization I am the first one to tinker and start changing things. I have a 750cc two stroke with expansion chambers, open intakes, and lots of carb changes. The **** thing is barely rideable


Anyway have fun with the bike and I hope you get it sorted out!

 

[Ccarp1069]

To begin thank you.

Im new at this i dont need to have someone to explain it to me like a child i get how it works.

Anyways when i start working on a project or fixing one thing i usually see something else bad or wrong then start to fix it at the same time ending where im at now.

But, Thanks again.

Tomorrow im doing a compression test will change the jets back to original and see where that puts me and will get the ignition up to par i have so dum hd mufflers on the bike now do to previous owners. (No disrespet anyone, Just not my Ride.) But i dont think that changed much. there good but just getting old, my biggest mods are for looks im cafe-ing the bike ( i no not many people do one this young but i dont care, I AM) and i'm putting a new exuast system on it a MAC 4-to-1 will that effect anything.

And just to add alittle about my self im very egger to learn and any advice or tips are greatly appreciated i need them. i love working on the bike as much as riding it. Just kills me when i fix 1 problem and another arises.

But if you all didnt mind keep an eye on this thread ill post more updates and try to get a picture in here so you can see where im at.

Thanks again and im truley sorry if this is hard to read or doesnt make complete since im in a hurry thanks again

 

[Ccarp1069]

And im running lean.

Just read another forum as well and according to them a ping/knock is a sign of that and what does that mean is happening?

If i Richen it up will it stop?

Or is it knocking because my pistons have holes burned through them?

Now im Confused

In quick reply (Sad Face)

 

[slumlord]

I understand the not wanting to get treated as a child thing. I do. I used to teach 18 year olds my trade,and I learned that to get respect ,you have to give it to them first. [and not tolerate behavior that was a waste of time]]
The best advice I can give you at the moment is to go to dansmc. and read the online motorcycle repair course. That course helped me a lot,and enabled me to come on this forum and ask specific questions. In other words,when I asked the question here,people understood that I had already researched it as well as I could and were more likely to answer it. He has a lot of good info on what makes a bike run rich or lean,and it directly relates to the questions you asked...
Anyway, The site is fun to read,and you can study just what you are working on right now. If you are like me,you will wind up reading most of the stuff on there out of thirst for knowledge. Hope this helps.
BTW, Dan would agree with you that checking the compression early in the process is a smart thing to do. Dan also has a story similar to post#4 ,so that shows you that there are good people here on this site with the experience to help you ...

Good luck with the bike,and keep us posted

 

[Ccarp1069]

Thanks man, ill check out the website im all about learning how it works but i learn extremley fast like when i have seen it done i've got it ill check it out though sounds interesting thanks again

And to the thread...

I changed all of my spark plugs, and read them. They all seem to be Good according to the manual just running a little Lean. I also re-tapped my spark plug cables ( i cut the cable and reconnected it to the spark plug's housing).

Anyways runs a ton better now the sparks where a little weak.

I also tested my battery, ac genorator and rectifier. And the Genorator came up bad.

So with that i figure as my battery dies my sparks get weaker and the bike dies, Right?

Any whom when i get my filters on that should fix the running slightly lean. and other than that the bike seems to be running great know. Itolk it for about an hour and a half cruise. nothing went wrong. and when i get my filters i will have my carbs synced, just to make sure all is perfect. So thanks all... But, one more question.

My plugs read fine other than the being lean. So the compression should be fine too, Right?

I only ask because i havent had a chance to check it.

Thanks again all

 

[jvollmer]

Sorry for the detailed explanation. I was just having a conversation and not implying anything about your skill level. The last person I had that conversation with was an accomplished mechanic so maybe it was a zinger for you.


A pinging or knock is not always from running lean. But you probably already knew that.

If you are running rich and have carbon deposits built up from unburned fuel they start to glow and cause detonation.

Good riding!
:71baldboy:

 

[slumlord]

Sorry for the detailed explanation. I was just having a conversation and not implying anything about your skill level. The last person I had that conversation with was an accomplished mechanic so maybe it was a zinger for you.


A pinging or knock is not always from running lean. But you probably already knew that.

If you are running rich and have carbon deposits built up from unburned fuel they start to glow and cause detonation.

Good riding!
:71baldboy:

I certainly did not think that your previous post implied anything but concern for getting the OP's bike fixed.Don't worry about it --just good information there.

 

[Ccarp1069]

Yes all is well i found the site interesting. Thanks you're all good

 

[Ccarp1069]

Alright so compression is good i got the new k&n filters on and i changed my Spark plug caps which were almost all broke and now it runs like a champ i almost dont reconize the bike its incredable.

Only thing left is fine tuning and regular matainance.

O and i have to get a new Stator.

So heres my list more for me than you but just incase your curious...

Okay so
New stator
Change oil
New exaust
paint
Tires
New Seat
New guages
new Tail light
thats about it i know this isnt in a good order idc it doesnt matter i cant wait ill post pictures when i get it done shouldnt be to long

 

[slumlord]

Good going. You have to have 15 posts before you can post pictures...
Care to waste a few words??

 

[Ccarp1069]

Fifteen post this site is wierd, how you have to be rewarded but anyways i guess +1...

o but since im wasting a post guess i have a question my exuast putts sort of like poopcorn when i release the throutle any ideas seems like a possible air leak but what are the other causes im sure there are more

 

[slumlord]

Since you mentioned possible air leak,here is a simple test for the most common air leak. The hard rubber boots that connect the carb to the engine can be cracked,or the seal may be poor. Using the straw that fits on the spray nozzle,squirt a little carb cleaner on and around these boots. If the boot is allowing air to suck in,the bike will speed up when the carb cleaner gets sucked in with the air...